Reports

The ANC Veterans League recently convened an important webinar titled “Ensuring Ethical Leadership in the LGE2026,” reflecting on the challenges facing the ANC in the local government elections and the urgent task of rebuilding public confidence in the movement.

The discussions were framed by the important observation contained in the ANC NGC Base Document:

“If the ANC can demonstrably renew itself – for example, by the next election presenting a slate of credible, honest candidates taking visible action against corrupt elements, and highlighting real improvements in communities driven by ANC activism – then public attitudes towards the movement could shift from cynicism to cautious optimism.”

This set the basis for an engagement on how the ANC can strengthen ethical leadership, reconnect with communities and fix local government with councillor candidates rooted in the values and traditions of the movement.

The ANC Election Committee’s rules, guidelines, and procedures for the nomination of candidates are a commendable demonstration of the ANC’s determination to ensure that the best, most honest, and ideologically committed leaders are chosen to serve and held accountable as public representatives.

It requires reasons to be set out for nominating a candidate, while the candidate is required to disclose the positions they have held in the ANC, Alliance, MDM, and community organisations, in addition to their qualifications, skills, and experience.

The declaration and acceptance, as well as the disclosure of interests, are the ingredients for branches to embark on a process of developing full disclosures of interest and political biographies for all leaders and members of the ANC, which can reflect a cadre’s political development, ideological grounding, or service to communities.

A political biography would become an important organisational resource, creating a historical and political record of leadership development within the movement and helping guide future deployment processes.

Another key recommendation the Veterans League is working on concerns the declaration of interests by all candidates and elected representatives. Public representatives and their families are politically exposed persons and therefore, carry a special responsibility to uphold transparency and ethical conduct.It was proposed that all candidates and political leaders within the ANC should complete declarations of interest covering business interests, involvement in government entities, organisational affiliations, gifts, sponsorships and hospitality received. These declarations should, where appropriate, extend to immediate family members to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest.

The purpose of these declarations would be to strengthen accountability, protect the integrity of deployment processes and reinforce ethical governance within ANC structures and municipalities.

It is also proposed that there should be a public signing ceremony for candidates accepting nomination as councillors, accompanied by the submission of both political biographies and declarations of interest.

Failure to disclose relevant interests, particularly where adverse allegations later emerge, should attract serious organisational consequences, including the possible revocation of ANC membership.

The importance of Veterans League members playing an active role in branch candidate selection processes is to ensure that the rules and procedures adopted by the ANC Election Committee are applied fairly and consistently was raised.

Veterans have an important responsibility to help safeguard organisational integrity, combat any tendency towards factionalism as per our membership oath and ensure that capable and ethical leaders represent communities.

One challenge raised at the webinar was that some ANC office bearers were both “referees and players”. For example, when members of regional executive structures occupy positions such as Speaker, Chief Whip and chairs of oversight committees, it becomes difficult for those office bearers to exercise independent oversight over executive mayors and municipal administrations.

It was suggested that leaders should instead occupy these positions with the necessary skills, experience and independence to carry out oversight responsibilities without fear or favour.

Questions were also raised regarding the full-time appointment of councillors and office bearers. Some participants argued that councillors, including mayors, speakers, and chief whips, should serve on a part- time basis to reduce undue interference in municipal administrative processes and to strengthen the distinction between political leadership and professional administration.

Webinar participants emphasised the importance of consequence management. Participants argued that ethical leadership cannot be achieved without decisive action against deployees who fail to meet the standards expected by the organisation and communities they serve.

At the same time, the meeting recognised that the support and development of councillors are equally important. Veterans League members were encouraged to assist newly elected councillors through mentorship, cadre development and political guidance so that they are better equipped to navigate the responsibilities of public office.

Participants also called for regular performance monitoring of councillors, proposing quarterly assessments to evaluate service delivery, accountability and responsiveness to community concerns.

Another issue raised was the need to respect the political-administrative interface within municipalities.

Sustainable governance depends on clear institutional boundaries and professional administration.The issue of community participation in candidate selection was raised. Existing guidelines do not adequately empower communities at the ward level to influence candidate selection, with outcomes often determined by branch executive structures.

Communities should have a meaningful voice in identifying candidates who genuinely enjoy grassroots support and who are trusted to serve the people diligently and honestly.

The webinar concluded with a strong sense that ethical renewal within the ANC is necessary, achievable and in progress. Participants agreed that rebuilding public confidence will require credible and principled leadership, transparent processes, effective consequence management, if necessary, and a renewed commitment to serving communities with humility and integrity.

As the movement prepares for LGE2026, discussions reaffirmed the Veterans League’s important role in defending the ANC’s values and contributing to the organisation’s renewal.